Film Review: Reviewed By Terry Staunton; 4 out of 5

Ben Drew, otherwise known as rapper Plan B, turns writer/director for this shocking and gritty urban drama that focuses on the criminal underclass in east London. Riz Ahmed (Four Lions) stars as Aaron, a young man trying to find his biological mother and escape his brutal and brutalising environment, but a series of increasingly violent events threaten to keep him languishing in despair. By skilfully interweaving the experiences of several characters (drug dealers, prostitutes, gang members), and punctuating the film with songs that act as both backstories and narration, Drew delivers a bleak but thought-provoking depiction of "broken Britain"; he also shows an impressive grasp of film language and pacing in his directorial debut. In an across-the-board outstanding cast, teenager Ryan De La Cruz stands out as Jake, whose loss of innocence leads to tragedy.

Plot Summary

A drug dealer returns to the London council estate after 15 years in prison, which sets in motion a chain of violent events that impacts on the lives of various residents struggling to survive in the community, including a small-time crook torn between his morals and his loyalty to his ruthless friend. Crime drama, starring Riz Ahmed, Nick Sagar and Keith Coggins.